AN INTRODUCTION TO LANGUAGE SYSTEMS
A brief look at the systems that make up the language we use.

 

LANGUAGE SYSTEMS
Whenever we communicate, we use "everything" we can to ensure that our 'message' is understood. The table below attempts to capture what constitutes that "everything":

COMMUNICATION
GRAMMAR
LEXIS
PHONOLOGY
DISCOURSE
PRAGMATIC
PERSONAL
Subsentential (morphology)   Segmental 'Text' organisation Context Affective (e.g.confidence)
Sentential (Syntax)   Supra-segmental Coherence Paralinguistics Strategic competence
Suprasentential (discourse)     Cohesion Shared knowledge  
        Appropriacy  

THE (META)LANGUAGE OF LANGUAGE
Groups of people, from footballers to punk rockers and from lawyers to groupies, use the language in specific ways that are peculiar to their group. These discourse communities use a 'common' language with its own terminology and lexicon and sometimes even its own grammar.
Those of us working with language are no different. When we look at language we use a grammatical metalanguage that provides us with a discourse (a way of taking about grammar). This metalanguage serves a referential function by allowing us to identify concepts with specific terms. This gives us, as teachers, the ability to better access linguistic references, discuss difficulties with clarity and thereby hopefully help our students by making the language easier for them to understand.
As a brief introduction to grammatical metalanguage, look at the two tables below. If you are unsure about any of the terms, check the reference books listed at the end.

GRAMMATICAL METALANGUAGE
Subsentential Terminology
Sentential Terminology
Suprasentential Terminology
Semantic
Simple sentences
Backgrounding & Foregrounding
Structural
Compound sentences
Cohesion
Functional
Complex sentences
Register
Parts of speech *
Sentence Moods
Genre
Theme / Rheme
Given / New
Markedness
Voice

*The three criteria of semantic, structural and functional are used when defining the parts of speech, which are typically divided into Major and Minor Parts of Speech as below:

MAJOR PARTS OF SPEECH
NOUNS
Common Nouns - inlcuding Countable and Uncountable (or Mass)
Proper Nouns
Collective Nouns
VERBS
Intransitive Verbs
Transitive Verbs
State Verbs (or Stative)
Event Verbs (or Active or Dynamic)
Auxiliary Verbs
Modal Verbs

ADJECTIVES
Gradeable Adjectives
Ungradeable Adjectives
ADVERBS & ADVERBIALS
Manner
Frequency
Time
Place
Degree (or Intensifiers)
Quantity
Focus
Attitude
MINOR PARTS OF SPEECH
PRONOUNS
DETERMINERS
Articles
Demonstratives
Possessive Determiners
Quantifiers

PREPOSITIONS
Place & time
Logical relationships
Case
- including Dative & Ablative
CONJUNCTIONS
Coordinating
Subordinating

To track the development of your metalanguage, try starting a terminology dictionary.

REFERENCES
Celce-Murcia, M. & Larsen-Freeman, D. (1999) The Grammar Book. Heinle & Heinle.
Parrott, M. (2000) Grammar for English Language Teachers. CUP.
Quirk, R. & Greenbaum, S. (1988) A University Grammar of English. London: Longman.
Leech, G. & Svartvik, J. (1987) A Communicative Grammar of English.
Bolitho, R. & Tomlinson. (1989) Discover English
Swan, M. (1980) Practical English Usage. OUP.
Lewis, M. (1986) The English Verb. Hove: LTP.
Bygate, M., Tonkyn, A. & Williams, E. (1994) Grammar and the Language Teacher. London, Prentice Hall.
Davis, P. & Rinvolucri, M. (1995) More Grammar Games. CUP.
Ur, P. (1988) Grammar Practice Activities: A Practical Guide for Teachers. CUP.
Swan, M. & Smith, B. (1987) Learner English. CUP.
Halliday, M.A.K. (1994) An Introduction to Functional Grammar (3rd Edition). London: Edward Arnold.
Halliday, M.A.K. & Hasan, R. (1976) Cohesion in English. London: Longman.